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Tag: schools

Senegal shuts schools amid violent unrest
Schools in Senegal will shut until March 15, the education ministry said on Sunday, after days of violent protests that have paralyzed parts of the capital Dakar and are expected to continue next week.
At least five people have died in demonstrations sparked by the arrest of Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s most prominent opposition leader on Wednesday .
It is the worst political unrest in years in a country widely seen as one of West Africa’s most stable.
Sonko, who enjoys strong support among the young, was arrested after an employee of a beauty salon accused him of raping her. Sonko denied the allegation and said it is politically motivated.
Opponents of President Macky Sall have called for further protests on Monday.
Much of Dakar turned into a war zone last week as police clashed with thousands of angry protesters. Many shops, gas stations and banks were closed for days. Large queues formed for petrol and groceries on Sunday, during what is expected to be a brief respite in the unrest.
Political pressure has mounted on President Sall, whose presidency has been plagued by accusations that he unjustly torpedoes political rivals and worries that he may seek to extend his rule beyond his allotted two-term limit.
Pressure increased on Saturday after a 17-year-old boy was killed by gunfire in southern Senegal.
The influential League of Imams and Preachers of Senegal on Sunday called for the release of Sonko and a “return to calm”.
March 7, 2021
Jubilation as Kaduna reopen schools with strict Covid-19 compliance measures
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Kaduna State Government has again announced the reopening of primary and secondary schools across the state with water tight Covid-19 compliance measures put in place to avoid contract and spread of the second wave of the pandemic, with jubilations.
A release issued by the permanent secretary, ministry of education, Phoebe Sukai Yayi, on behalf of the commissioner, stated that the decision was taken after series of consultations with relevant stakeholders in both State and Federal Health, and Education sectors within and across the State
The statement made available to news men on Saturday night, stated that, Monday, 1st of February 2021 has been approved as resumption date for SS3, JSS3 and JSS1 for public and private schools.
It further stated that “wishes to inform the public that after extensive appraisal of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the State and series of consultations with relevant stakeholders of both State and Federal Health and Education sectors within and across the State, Monday, 1st of February 2021 has been approved as resumption date for SS3, JSS3 and JSS1 for public and private schools.
“Government has also approved Primary 6, 5 and 4 of Private Schools only, to resume on the same day. All public Primary Schools remain closed until all the Covid-19 protocols have been properly put in place before they will be opened.
“In view of this, the Kaduna State Ministry of Education is directing all Principals and Head Teachers to make arrangements to receive Boarding and Day students of the above stated classes on Monday, 1st February 2021.
“However, the State Covid-19 Task Force will continue to monitor all schools to ensure safe learning environments against the pandemic in addition to strict adherence to the guidelines issued by the State Government.
Thus, all Administrators of public and private schools are to note that, they must comply with all COVID-19 Protocols (Temperature checks at school entrance, compulsory wearing of facemasks, regular hand washing/use of sanitizer and all COVID-19 guidelines as directed by the COVID-19 Taskforce as well as those contained in the State FORWARD Campaign).
Any bridge in complying with these protocols may lead to the closure of the affected school without any notice.
“Schools will be on shift to enable them meet with these guidelines as the first shift will run from 08:00am – 12:00noon while the second shift will be from 01:00pm – 05:00pm. The class size should not exceed 20 students per normal class with 1.5m to 2.0m physical distancing, schools must also have COVID-19 Committee which will comprise of the SBMC, PTA, Community representative, Health personnel, Students and Teachers representatives to monitor and ensure compliance.
Parents are also advised to provide their children/wards with facemasks and other sanitary items to help in curtailing the spread of the virus.

“The State Government is reiterating that all Schools should voluntarily comply and take personal responsibility for their own health and abide by the simple preventive measures as it is the right and safe thing to do.

“While the Ministry is assuring the public of continuing the e-learning program using Google classrooms, radio and television stations and other online applications, Administrators of public and private schools are encouraged to adopt blended learning system.”
Appropriate resumption dates for the rest of the classes (SS2, SS1 and JS2 in public and private schools and primary 3, 2, 1 and Nursery classes) will be announced in due course, subject to school’s compliance with guidelines in place.
“The Ministry appreciates the cooperation of all stakeholders in the education sector for their continued support and understanding and invites all them to join its various monitoring teams in ensuring safe learning environment for our children.
“This directive also covers all Islamiya and Qur’anic Schools in the State.
Recalled that the Kaduna Governor, Mall. Nasir el-Rufai was earlier this week, dragged to court over indefinite schools closure by some human right lawyers .
January 30, 2021
COVID-19: FG Has No Idea Which Schools Are Ready To Re-Open – NMA President
The federal government has no statistics to measure which schools are prepared for re-opening amid the coronavirus pandemic, President of the Nigeria Medical Association, Professor Innocent Ujah, said on Monday.
Prof Ujah made the comment while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
Based on the federal government’s directive, schools resumed in several states nationwide on Monday.
But critics say the government hasn’t done enough to ensure schools are equipped to observe COVID-19 regulations such as social distancing and wearing of face masks.
“If we know that children should go to school, what facilities have we put in place? Our problem is that we do a lot of talking and do very little,” Prof Ujah said. “It is also true that we do not listen to experts.
“What we have been saying is that the coronavirus is totally unprepared for and one year after, what lessons have we learn?
“We know that students should go to school, we know that they should maintain NCDC protocol. But what have we done in schools? Nigeria is a very interesting country, a country full of contradictions.
“The truth is we have no statistics as far as I know, of the number of schools that are ready, whether public or private, and what they should put in place. I feel that we are very sentimental as a nation.
“While we are saying that schools should be reopened, we should be prepared. Who are those monitoring? Who are those supervising the process? Because we can talk and we don’t supervise.”
January 18, 2021
Governors To Meet Over COVID-19 Second Wave As Schools Re-Open
The Nigerian Governors Forum on Monday said it will meet on Wednesday to chart a way out of the second wave of the pandemic as schools reopen across the country.
In a statement signed by its spokesman Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the Governors forum said it was alarmed by the intensity of the second wave of the global pandemic and the country’s “tardy commencement of inoculation”.
Nigeria’s number of new cases has skyrocketed in recent weeks, seeing the nation cross the 100,000-mark for total infections.
On Sunday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reported 1,444 new cases and 15 deaths.
The NGF meeting will be the first for the Governors in 2021 and will be conducted virtually.
Other matters to be discussed at the meeting include revenue sharing and the water resources bill.
January 18, 2021
Lagos Govt. direct schools to reopen January 18
The Lagos State Government has affirmed its earlier pronouncement that all public and private schools in Lagos State below tertiary level should resume on Monday, January 18, 2021, for the second term 2020/2021 academic session.
This affirmation was made today by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo while noting that this is in line with the Federal Government’s resolution after reaching a consensus with relevant stakeholders.
Details later…
January 15, 2021
BREAKING: FG direct all Schools to resume January 18
The Federal Government has given the nod for schools to resume on January 18 after reaching consensus with Governors, Commissioners and other stakeholders.
The consensus was reached at a meeting between the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and Commissioners of Education in Abuja.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Arc. Sonny Echono, who confirmed this , said: “We have had extensive discussions with state governors, proprietors of schools, labour /staff unions and students’ representatives. And the consensus is that we should reopen all schools.

“But the reopening of schools will be in compliance with COVID-19 protocols, especially strict adherence to non-pharmaceutical procedures.”
Details shortly…
January 14, 2021
COVID-19: Bauchi govt insists on Reopening Schools Jan 18
Despite the Federal Government’s decision to review schools reopening on January 18 the Bauchi State government on Tuesday insisted schools in the state will reopen for the first term of the 2020/2021 academic session next Monday.
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, had on Monday revealed at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing that the Federal Government was reviewing the Monday, 18th January school resumption date earlier scheduled.
However, reacting to this in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Aliyu Tilde, said all schools in the state would reopen on Monday, 18th January irrespective of any review made by the Federal Government.
The state government’s insistence on the date, according to Tilde, was due to the fact that no single COVID-19 case had been reported in any schools in the state so far.
He noted that any attempt to change the 2020/2021 session’s resumption date due to the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic would lead to the mutilation of the session as witnessed in the 2019/2020 session.
“To date, not a single case of COVID-19 infection is reported in our schools. Therefore, regardless of any review that may take place in some quarters, Bauchi State Ministry of Education is determined to reopen schools in the state on January 18th, unfailingly, as earlier decided by the State Executive Council.
“The 2020/2021 school calendar starts that day. Unless we stand resolute on our school plan for the year, the session will be mutilated by the fear of COVID-19 as was 2019/2020,” Tilde stated.
In view of the state government’s decision to go ahead with schools resumption date, the commissioner called on parents, teachers, students and other stakeholders to prepare for the resumption.
While assuring that Bauchi State would avoid COVID-19 by using its familiar protocol of face masks, social distance, sanitation and testing in schools, Dr Tilde submitted that schools would not be closed “except under a resoundingly imminent emergency.”
January 12, 2021
COVID-19: Osun Govt. directs schools to reopen January 18
Osun State Government has directed schools in the state to reopen on Monday, January 18, for the continuation of the first term, 2020/2021 Academic Session.
This was contained in a statement signed by Kehinde Olaniyan, Coordinating Director, Ministry of Education on Tuesday.
The statement also directed teachers to resume on Monday, January 11, to prepare for the reopening of schools.
The statement read in part, “This is to inform the General Public particularly parents, guardians, school heads and proprietors of public and private schools that in line with the Federal Government advise on school resumption which is embraced by most states of the federation, the Hon Commissioner for Education, has directed public and private schools (Primary and Secondary) in Osun State to resume schooling for the continuation of 1st term of 2020/2021 academic session on Monday 18th January 2021.
“Teachers are to resume on Monday 11th January 2021 in preparation for pupils/students resumption on the 18th January 2021.
“Consequently the School Calendar has been adjusted by two weeks as a result of the change in resumption date therefore schools will now go on the 1st term vacation on 5th March 2021 as against 19th February 2021.”
January 5, 2021
Gov Wike Direct Schools in Rivers To Reopen On Monday
The Rivers State government has directed private and public schools in the state to reopen on Monday.
This was announced by the Permanent Secretary at the Rivers State Ministry of Education, Chidi Adiele, in a statement on Sunday.
According to Adiele, all schools in Rivers are to resume academic activities on January 4 for the completion of the first term academic session.
He explained that the directive was issued with the approval of the state governor, Nyesom Wike, in line with the school calendar published in August 2020.
The government, however, warned the schools to maintain all COVID-19 protocols, including the wearing of face masks and the use of hand sanitisers.
It also asked them to introduce staggered classes for morning and afternoon in order to avoid overcrowding of the schools.
January 3, 2021
BREAKING: Lagos State Govt orders closure of all schools
The Lagos State Government has asked public and private schools in the state to vacate on Friday.
This was contained in a statement, on Thursday, titled LASG directs schools to vacate on Friday, Decemeber 18, 2020′.
In the statement, the Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Mrs Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, said “the 2020/2021 first term academic session for public and private schools comes to an end on Friday 18th December, 2020”.
“The Lagos States Government has directed public and private schools in the state to vacate on Friday 18th December, 2020.
“Therefore, all public and private schools below tertiary level in the state are to close for the Christmas and New Year holiday on that day. Schools are to resume back on Monday 4th January, 2021 in compliance with the Lagos State harmonized academic calendar.
“It is important to note that boarders are to resume on Sunday 3rd January, 2021 while academic activities commences immediately,” the statement read in part.
Details later…
December 17, 2020